A self-referral pilot to improve access for children and young people to mental health services in the north of Doncaster has been extended across the borough.

The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (CYPMHS), which is usually referred to as CAMHS, is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust’s pilot is part of the national Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP-IAPT) Project.

Young people aged 14 to 18 who are registered with a Doncaster GP can refer themselves into the service, named by service users as ‘Step into CAMHS’, on Mondays between 2.30pm and 4.30pm at the Talking Shop, Hallgate, Doncaster.

Service user Kirsty Summers, 17, from Doncaster, said: “Young people can now get into services more quickly and easily, rather than going through a GP or school. You can talk direct to someone who can help instead of having to go through a longer referral process, and that’s really useful.”

RDaSH Project Manager Claire Strachan said: “Self-referral is the opportunity for a young person to access the CAMHS service without consultation or referral from a wider professional.

“We are committed to working with children, young people and families to shape our services for the future and are keen to know how they would like to be involved.”